CHILDREN'S PARTIES 
lor SUNDAY SCHOOL 



and HOME 





GopyrightN^ 



COKYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



CHILDREN'S PARTIES 

for SUNDAY SCHOOL 

and HOME 




PUBLISHED BY 

WILLIAM H. DIETZ CO. 

"The Sunday School Supply People" 

CHICAGO 



Lottie E. Fitch 



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Table Set for Butterfly Party 



Copyright 1915 

by 

Lottie E. Fitch 

Chicago 



AUG 30 1915 



Dedicated to the Little Children of the 

Austin Methodist Episcopal Sunday School 

for whom these parties were 

originally planned. 



T 



H E Chicago Graded Union of Sunday School 
Teachers is pleased to recommend to teach- 
ers and parents this little book, which pre- 
sents varied plans for "Children's Parties for 
Sunday School and Home." The Union feels 
honored that one of its members has gathered from 
her experience of several years, the detail of many 
parties appropriate to all seasons and special days. 
The outlines are so complete that others can easily 
adapt them. It is with the hope that the hearts of 
thousands of children may be made happy by these 
parties that the Graded Union of Chicago bespeaks 
for the book a warm welcome. 




President. 




^^j^SJjUL^p^^ 



Secretary. 



Jflr^morh 



T 



HE parties described in this book with the exception of 
that given for Temperance, are monthly entertainments 
used by the author with her own class of Sunday School 
children. In planning these parties we tried to make 
them entertaining and instructive, but inexpensive and with as 
little work as possible, since we would rather have a simple 
party once a month than to have only one a year and that 
elaborate. We also wanted to impress upon the minds of the 
children that to have a good time did not depend so much on 
what some one else did for them as on what they did for some 
one else. 

With this in mind they were usually asked to bring some- 
thing for charitable institutions. Sometimes it was soup 
for the day nursery, sometimes crackers for the grandmas 
in the Old People's Home, sometimes cereal for the Orphan- 
age, or jelly for children in the hospital. If the children 
can make something it is even better than just buying 
things. 

In February they made valentines for the Crippled Children's 
Home. One Easter they colored eggs and another time they 
made pretty little Easter gifts from egg shells. For a month 
or more before the party eggs were saved. A hole was made 
in both ends of the shell and the inside was blown out. On 
these shells the children pasted a pretty scrap picture flower, 
bird or butterfly and ran a ribbon through so it could be hung 
up. Many other simple little things can be made by the chil- 
dren which will bring happiness to others as well as to 
themselves. 

With most children the real party begins when they sit 
down to the table. Here again we tried to make it plain^that 



they didn't come just for something to eat. Christmas was the 
only time the children had ice cream. The other months we 
gave them a little candy, cake or cookies, furnished by the 
mothers whose children had birthdays during the month. 
They also had one other thing. As there were over a hundred 
children in the department and the birthdays were pretty well 
scattered through the year there was always plenty of cake. 
The refreshments were usually served on the bare table with 
paper doilies at each place. Paper plates were used when- 
ever possible to save dish washing. 

When it came to the games we had to keep in mind that 
the majority of the children knew but few and that they would 
rather play the ones they knew than to learn others. That is 
why we have so many times used the same game with a dif- 
ferent name. A book of games almost invaluable to a teacher 
of young children is "Singing Games, Old and New," by Mari 
Hofer. 

Realizing how much the children enjoy listening to stories, 
and the great benefit to be -derived from them, we tried to 
have a story for each party. Most of them were taken from 
"For the Children's Hour," by Carolyn S. Bailey and Clara 
M. Lewis. 

If this book is the means of helping some teacher to give a 
party thereby binding the children closer to the school and to 
give them an opportunity of putting into practice some of the 
things they have learned in Sunday School, it will have 
accomplished the end for which it was written. 




A 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 17 



A Snowball Party 

T THE time of the year when one would be most likely 
to want to give a Snowball Party, not many children 
could come. But for those who could it would be great 
fun. The invitations should be made from a circle of 
white bristol board. Spread one side with paste and then 
sprinkle with diamond dust to make it look like snow. On the 
opposite side write the invitation. 

For this party you will need a lot of cotton snow balls. 
Instead of making them before hand, let the children who 
come early help you. They will take great delight in forming 
balls out of cotton and wrapping them in tissue paper. Have 
some older person tie the string around to keep them in place. 

If the room where the children play is large, they might have 
a Snowball Contest. Form in line. Give each child a snow 
ball. They throw them, one at a time, just as far as they can. 
After all have had their turn they can gather up the snow balls 
for the next game. 

Suspend a barrel hoop covered with cotton from the ceiling. 
Give each child a turn at throwing his snow ball through 
the hoop. 

Collect the snow balls again and keep ten of them for the 
Snowball Race. Form the children in two rows with the 
same number in each line. Give five balls to the leader of 
each side. At a given signal, the leader passes one to the child 
next to him, who in turn passes it on till all the snow balls 
reach the other end. The side which passes all their balls to 
the other end first, wins. 

The game which will give the children most enjoyment of 
all is Knocking the Hat off the Snow Man. To make the 
snow man, tie a string real tight to a roll of cotton about one- 
third of the way down. This forms the head and body. To 
make the head a little better shape, with a coarse needle and 
some twine gather it at the top. Sew buttons on for eyes, 
nose and mouth. 



18 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



When they get through with this they will need to have 
some quieting game or a story. A good story to tell would be 
"The Snow Man," by Andersen. 

Everything in the dining room should be in white. In the 
center of the table have a pile of popcorn balls. At each place 
have a cuddled apple covered with whipped cream to further 
carry out the snow ball idea. To cuddle apples, core and peel 
them, drop in hot syrup and cook till clear. They must be 
watched carefully and taken out before they break. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 19 

Additional Games 



20 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 21 



Winter Party 



T 



HERE are many things in the winter time to give the 
children pleasure, but the thing most essential is snow. 
Pretty little pictures of winter scenes advertising a 
certain make of sleds, were used for this party. On the 
outside of a piece of paper twice as large as the picture, folded 
through the middle, paste the picture. Write the invitation 
inside. 

Was there ever a little child who did not like to play horse? 
Choose two children for horses and one for the driver. Have 
some lines with bells on for the driver to use in hitching up 
his horses. They gallop around the circle of children several 
times ; then stop in front of some one, who gets in the sleigh 
(between the lines) and goes for a ride. Others are picked 
up along the way till the sleigh is full. Then they ride several 
times around the room. 

As the children probably meet Jack Frost on their ride, let 
them play this game next. All stand in a circle and one is 
chosen for Jack Frost. He runs around and touches one of 
the children on the hand, then goes back to his place. The 
child touched says, "J^^k Frost came this way." The one 
to the left says, "What did he do?" The first child replies, 
''He nipped my right hand," and shakes his right hand. No. 2 
tells No. 3 about Jack Frost, each doing as No. 1 did until it 
has gone all around the circle. Jack Frost then nips some one's 
left hand. This goes the rounds and then he nips other parts 
imtil the whole body of every child is shaking. 

Drop the Snowball is another game appropriate for a 
winter party. The children form in a circle the same as for 
Drop the Handkerchief, but instead of dropping a handker- 
chief they drop a cotton snow ball. The child who picks up 
the snow ball throws it at the one who dropped it and tries 
to hit him. The one hit goes in the middle of the circle the 
same as he would if he were caught in Drop the Handkerchief. 

When the children are ready to rest tell them the story of 
"Blue Bird's First Winter," by Katherine Spear. 



22 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



It will be no trouble to make the table look wintry. In the 
center make a mound of cotton and sprinkle with diamond 
dust. Dress a couple of five cent dolls in cap and coat and 
have them coasting down the hill on sleds. These can be 
made of red bristol board three and one-half inches wide by- 
four inches long. Fold back three-fourths of an inch on each 
side to form the runners. Round off the front part of the run- 
ners and hollow out the back. A sled similar to this can be 
made for each child and marshmallows or creamed filberts 
placed on them. Serve with cocoa and cake. 



o 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 23 

Additional Games 



24 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 25 






Valentine Party 



r—^EBRUARY seems to be a month of special days and 
the one which children like best is Valentine's Day. 
The invitations for this party should be cut in the shape 
of hearts from red bristol board and lettered with white 
ink. 

There is no end to the number of heart games which are 
suitable for children. Following is a list of some which are 
entertaining and require very little preparation beforehand. 

Heart Hunt 
Piercing the Heart 
Dropping Hearts 
Hold Fast my Heart 
Heart Ring Toss 
Before the children arrive, hide little candy hearts all 
around the room. At a given time have them start out to 



26 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Hunt the Hearts. There is no prize for the one finding the 
most, but each child is allowed to eat all he finds. 

Pin a large red heart on a sheet. Give to each child a gilt 
arrow. Blindfold them one at a time. Then they try to Pierce 
the Heart with the arrow. 

For Dropping Hearts you will need an empty basket and a 
large number of small red paper hearts. Give four to each 
child. Let them stand near the basket with arms stretched 
forward and drop the hearts in one at a time. When all are 
through there will be a nice array of hearts around the basket 
but very few inside. 

The children all sit on the floor for the next game. One 
is chosen to Pass the Heart while all the others place their 
hands together to receive it. The one passing the heart places 
it between his two hands and then draws them between those 
of each player, saying as he does so, "Hold Fast My Heart." 
He opens his hand enough to let the heart out into some one's 
hands, but care must be taken that the other children do not 
see where he leaves it. When he has been all around, the 
others guess who has the heart. The one guessing correctly 
has the next turn to pass it. 

Heart Ring Toss is played like the ordinary game of ring 
toss, only hearts are used in place of rings. Any hardware 
dealer will make up some rings in heart shape for a very small 
price. 

Pretty little valentines can be bought so reasonably that 
almost any teacher can afiford to give one to each child. Fix 
a fancy box to hold the valentines and place it in the center of 
the table. When the children are all through eating and ready 
to go home the box can be opened and the valentines dis- 
tributed. The candy may be put in red peanut cups with red 
hearts tied on for covers. Serve cookies and red jello both in 
heart shape. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 27 

Additional Games 



28 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



29 




Cupid Party 



W^^RITE the invitations for this party on cupids cut from 
red mounting papers. Or they can be secured from 
Dennison's already cut at eighteen for ten cents. 

If the party is held before the 14th of February, they 
will want valentines. Instead of buying them, give material 
to the children. All that is needed will be red bristol board. 



30 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



scrap pictures and paste. Cut enough hearts from the bristol 
board so that each child may have one and let them paste a 
scrap picture on it. If a little more elaborate valentine is 
wanted, cut the heart double, paste a picture on the outside and 
a love verse inside. The children will enjoy sending these to 
some orphanage or institutional church. 

After sitting still for so long they will need a running game, 
so play Ten Little Cupids. Ten children are chosen to be the 
Cupids and as each one's number is called he runs out into the 
circle. The ten children in the center join hands in a circle and 
those outside make another circle, hopping around while they 
sing, *'Tra la la" to the tune of the song. When they come to 
the last verse they run back to their places as each one's num- 
ber is called. Following are the words of the song: 

One little, two little, three little cupids, 
Four little, five little, six little cupids, 
Seven little, eight little, nine little cupids. 
Ten little cupid dolls. 

Ten little, nine little, eight little cupids, 
Seven little, six little, five little cupids. 
Four little, three little, two little cupids, 
One little cupid doll. 

Try a Kewpie Race next. Form in two lines. The leader 
of each side has a little celluloid Kewpie doll. At the word 
"go" the leaders give the dolls to the ones next to them and 
so on down the line. The side getting the doll to the other 
end first, wins. 

In Emilie Poulsson's "Holiday Songs and Every Day Songs 
and Games" there is such a dear little valentine game. The 
children sing: 

When you send a valentine, 

1 hat's the time for fun. 

Push it underneath the door. 

Ring the bell and run, run, run. 

Ring the bell and run. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 31 



Then one child goes into another room and closes the door. 
Another takes a valentine, or a cupid similar to the invitation, 
pushes it underneath the door and runs back to his place. 
The one in the other room opens the door quickly and tries 
to find out v^ho sent the valentine. 

After these games there will probably be just about time 
for a story before the refreshments are served. One quite in 
keeping with the main thought of the day is the Greek myth, 
"Cupid and Psyche." 

Cupids reign supreme in the dining room also. In the 
center of the table have a large red heart with a cupid standing 
on it. Fix red baskets by putting a frill of crepe paper around 
nut cups. Put a handle on the basket and at the top fasten one 
of the smallest cupids. Red jello and cake could be served, 
or they might have red apples. 



32 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 33 




George Washington Party 



L 



ITTLE children very early in life learn to love the 
Father of their Country and a party would be a very 
good way of commemorating his birthday. The story 
of the hatchet is the first thing they hear about George 
Washington, so use hatchets for invitations. 

Secure a number of Washington pictures. Cut them in eight 
or ten pieces and put each set in an envelope by itself. As the 
children arrive, give each an envelope and let them put the 
pieces together to make a complete picture. 

When they are through with this they can Pick Cherries off 
the cherry tree. A little Christmas tree that has been used at 
a Christmas Party may be saved, dried and the needles all 
shaken off. When wanted for the Washington Party it is 
transformed into a cherry tree by pasting on green paper 
leaves and tying on round red candies. Blindfold the chil- 
dren. Then let each one walk up to the tree and pick a cherry. 

As Washington was such a great soldier the children will 
want to be soldiers too. So play "Here Comes One Soldier 
Marching." One child is chosen for captain. The others 



34 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



join hands and form a straight line. The captain marches up 
to the children singing : 

Here comes one soldier marching, 

Marching, marching. 
Here comes one soldier marching, 

Tum-te-tum, te-tum. 

Then he goes back to his place. The.children reply: 

Why don't you take one of us, 

One of us, one of us. 
Why don't you take one of us, 

Tum-te-tum, te-tum. 

The captain replies : 

My country needs brave soldiers, 
Brave soldiers, brave soldiers, 
' My country needs brave soldiers, 

Tum-te-tum-te-tum. 

The children ask why he doesn't choose the bravest. He 
says his country needs true soldiers, strong soldiers. The 
children answer back each time till finally he says : 

My country needs brave soldiers. 

Strong soldiers, true soldiers. 
My country needs brave soldiers, 

And I give salute to you. 

The player saluted joins the captain and the game is repeated 
with the words, ''Here come two soldiers," etc. This game 
impresses upon the children what are the characteristics of a 
soldier. 

A game giving the different things used by the soldiers 
is "The King of France." The children form in two rows 
facing each other. One marches between the two rows acting 
out the first verse of the song, then steps back to his place. 
The rows now take it up, marching up to each other and back 
to their places. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 35 

1. The King of France with 40,000 men 

Marched up the hill and then marched down again. 

2. The King of France with 40,000 men 

Gave the salute and then marched back again. 

3. Blew their horns and then marched back again. 

4. Beat their drums and then marched back again. 

5. Waved their flags and then marched back again. 

6. Shouldered their arms and then marched back again. 

If you think the children have not all heard the story of 
George Washington and his hatchet, tell it to them ; but if all 
know it, tell some other story connected with his childhood. 

The tree which was used for one of the games can be placed 
on the table as a center piece. For the souvenirs, make a candy 
box representing a George Washington hat. Round pill boxes 
are used for the crown and black paper for the rest. Cut a 
circle of the paper as large as the bottom of the box plus the 
height. Paste this onto the bottom and catch to the side of 
the box in three different places. A small feather can be added 
or not as preferred. Fill the boxes with red candy. Serve 
cherry jello and cake. 



36 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 37 




Butterfly Party 



A 



T EASTER time when the children have been hearing 
about butterflies it would please them to have a party 
along this line. Have butterflies everywhere in evi- 
dence. 



For the invitation and the candy baskets use scrap pictures 
of butterflies, and for decorating the room use Dennison's 
butterfly crepe paper. Cut a butterfly from white paper to cor- 
respond to the scrap picture and paste the bodies together 
leaving the wings free. Under one wing write the invitation. 
Under the other write words telling what you want the chil- 
dren to bring for the poor. 

Butterflies cut from crepe paper and then wired can be 
hung from the chandelier by means of a black thread. In the 
center of the table have a basket of flowers with a few butter- 
flies resting on them. The baskets for candy are made of a 
colored peanut cup with some of Dennison's green wire for 
a handle. At the top of the handle paste a small scrap picture 
butterfly. Serve bananas and cake. 

It might be well to tell the story, "A Lesson of Faith," 
by Margaret Gatty, early in the afternoon. This will refresh 
the children's minds on how the caterpillar spins its cpcoon 
and how the butterfly comes out in the spring. 



38 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



Let the children all join hands and the first child lead 
them round and round in a circle, each time making it smaller 
till they are all in a bunch. When they have thus woven the 
cocoon, several of the children raise their arms making a hole 
for the leader to crawl out. The rest of the children still keep 
hold of hands and follow. 

For Musical Butterflies arrange the chairs in a row, alternat- 
ing them ; one facing one way, the next the other way, and 
so on. Have one less chair than there are children. Some one 
at the piano plays a selection the children can fly by and they 
skip around till the music stops, then each tries to get a chair. 
The child failing to get one drops out of the game. One chair 
is taken ofT and the music starts again. This is kept up till 
only one remains. 

Flying Butterflies is played like skipping tag except that 
the children fly instead of skip. The children stand in a circle. 
One in the middle flies around and touches some one on the 
circle. This child flies around and tries to catch the butterfly. 
When caught it goes back to the circle and the other child 
becomes a butterfly. 

When time to go into the dining room the children can fly 
in like butterflies instead of marching. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 39 

Additional Games 



40 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



41 




Easter Rabbit Party 



w 



"^HITE mounting paper is used for the invitation to this 
party. Cut the rabbit double and write the invitation 



inside. Make the eyes with red ink. 

Choose six or eight children to be rabbits in the 
Rabbit Race. Have them get down on their hands and feet. 
At the word ''Go," all hop to the other end of the room. The 
one getting there first wins. 

For Bunny's Eggs you will need as many eggs cut from 
wall paper as there are children. Draw a large picture of a 
bunny and pin it to a sheet fastened to the wall. Give to each 
child an egg and a pin ; when blindfolded let them try to pin 
the eggs in the bunny's paws. When the game is over there 
will be a very pretty display of eggs all around the bunny 
and possibly one in his paws. 

Chase the Rabbit. Let the children form a ring leaving 
one inside for the rabbit. He runs or hops around the ring 
and touches some child ; that one chases the rabbit, hopping 
when the rabbit hops and running when he runs. The rabbit 
runs around the circle till he comes to the place vacated by 
the other child. 



42 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



As little children like ..o fall down they will enjoy playing 
Rabbit. Only one person is supposed to know how to play 
this game, and he is the leader, lie asks every one if 
they know how to plaj Rabbit and when they have all said 
''No," he tells them tc follow him and he will show them 
how. First they all st^ ad in a row ; then kneel down on one 
knee; then all place tho first finger of the right hand on the 
floor. When they are t^ll trying to balance themselves on the 
floor, the leader pushes against the 'one next to him, thus 
knocking over the whole row. He announces that this is the 
way to play Rabbit and the children all join in a merry laugh. 

Of course they wil! ivant to hunt eggs the Easter rabbit laid, 
but before they do, tell the story of Herr Oster Hase, found 
in "For the Children's Hour," by Carolyn S. Bailey and Clara 
M. Lewis. When hunting for the eggs, which can either be 
candy eggs or colored hard boiled, let them hunt till they 
find one and then sit down to eat it. 

Cut the candy box out of white mounting paper. Fold on 
the dotted line and paste the back part. To fasten the rest of 
it and also to make the eyes, take a piece of pink cord. Make 
a knot in one end, run the cord from one eye to the other and 
make another knot. Fill the box with little candy Easter eggs. 
In the center of the table make a yard out of green crepe paper 
and have several rabbits playing in it. If you want to carry 
out the pink and white idea in your refreshments, serve blanc- 
mange and cake with pink frosting. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 43 




44 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 45 



Easter Party 



A 



T THIS PARTY let eggs be the predominating feature 
Bristol board of all colors cut in the shape of eggs can 
be used for invitations. The games to be played 
are: 

Egg Race 

Hunt the Egg 

Suspended Eggs 

Disappearing Eggs 

Indian Egg Race 

The Egg Race may be played by any number of children 
Give each one a hard boiled tgg and a spoon. If the eggs are 
colored they will like it better. Place them on the floor. At a 
given signal let all take their spoons and roll the eggs to the 
opposite end of the room. 

Hunt the Egg is played the same as Hide the Thimble. 

All go out of the room but one and he hides the Qgg. When 
the children come in and start to hunt for it, the one who 
hid it lets the children know whether they are near or far 
away by saying ''hot" or "cold." 



46 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



Suspend from the ceiling as many candy eggs of different 
sizes as there are players. Blindfold the children and let them 
walk up to take an egg. 

For Disappearing Eggs, have six or eight hard boiled, each 
colored differently. Let one child blind his eyes while another 
takes one or two eggs away. The one who is blinded is to 
tell which of the eggs has disappeared. 

Indian Egg Race is played by givifig to each child a spoon 
and a hard boiled egg. Place the egg in the spoon and hop 
on one foot from one end of the room to the other. 

It is suggested that the children bring hard boiled eggs to 
give to some orphanage. Make a large nest of green raffia 
and put eggs in it. Let this form the center piece for the dining 
table. Make little nests for each of the children and fill with 
candy eggs. These nests are easily made from an empty rib- 
bon bolt which any drygoods man will gladly give you. Take 

three circles of tissue paper, three inches wider in diameter 
than the ribbon bolt. Fringe them and set the bolt on it. 
Bring the edges up around the side and put a rubber band 
around to hold it in place. Nos. 1 and 2 ribbon bolts are the 
best. The outer circle of paper should be green and the other 
two should be shades to correspond with the color scheme. 

Some refreshments a little out of the ordinary would be cake 
and egg blanc-mange. Make the blanc-mange plain and put it 
in a sauce dish to mould. When ready to serve, take out a 
little from the center and fill with custard. This makes your 
refreshments look like fried eggs. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 47 

Additional Games 



48 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



49 






aJ^-^-^^^^^r- 




May Party 



T 



HE month of all months best fitted for a party is May. 
The invitations for this can be made from wall paper 
and cut in the shape of a basket. Fold the paper and 
cut the basket double. Write the invitation inside. 



These words are suggested 



You may be sure of a good time 

If you come to our May Party ; 

Wed. at 2 :30. 



A game which children dearly love is A Social Game. It is 
sung to the tune of ''Coming Thru the Rye." The children 
form a circle and four are chosen to go inside. They walk 
around and sing, bow and clasp hands with one of the children 
in the circle and skip while the rest clap and sing. At the last 



50 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



verse they leave their partners and return to the circle. Fol- 
lowing are the words of the song: 

Lads and lassies out a-walking 
Chanced to meet one day. 
First they bowed, then clasping hands 
Danced with nimble feet. 

Lads and lassies home returning 
Waved a fond good-bye, 
Hoping soon to meet again 
Coming thru the rye. 

See-Saw is a good rhythm game for little children. One 
stands in the center of the circle with arms stretched sidewise 
to form a See-Saw. Two others take hold of the outstretched 
arms as if they were on a board. The child in the center moves 
one arm up while the other goes down and the children stoop 
and rise with the hands. The See-Saw Song in "Songs of the 
Child World," by Jessie L. Gaynor, is an excellent one to learn 
in connection with this game. 

If the children like to play ball, let them try throwing it 
into a basket. Another game which all could enter into heart- 
ily is Drop the Handkerchief. Everybody is surely familiar 
with this game. 

The crowning feature of the whole party will be the May 
Pole Dance. If it is held outdoors, May Pole ribbons, which 
are long strips of vari-colored cambric, three inches wide, can 
be fastened to a tree. If indoors, a pole will have to be made. 
For children who are not familiar with the May Pole, it will 
be best to have them all skip one way. Some children may be 
accustomed to the dance in kindergarten and so can try the 
fancy skip. 

The refreshments for this party, whether indoors or out. 
can be served picnic style. Make a basket of colored bristol 
board for every child and in each put a couple of sandwiches, 
olives, cookies, and some candy. Place the baskets on a table 
and when time to eat, let the children march around, each tak- 
ing one. Then back to the circle and sit down. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 51 

Additional Games 



52 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 53 



Flower Party 



I 



write 



F JUNE is the month of roses, May is the month oi 
wild flowers. They .should be used in abundance at a 
May Party. Flowers cut from, wall paper would make 
appropriate invitations. On the back of the flowers, 

Come and see the flowers, 
Blooming in our garden fair. 
All the children will be there ; 
Three o'clock is the hour. 

At one end of the room have a low table. On this put 
several large pans filled with sand and wild flowers to repre- 
sent the gardens or greenhouse. Whatever flowers are easiest 
to procure can be placed in these gardens. Also scatter flowers 
all around the room. 

When the children arrive, let them be seated at a table 
with paste, scissors and l^ght colored bristol board. Have them 
make a basket. After each one has made a May basket they 
start out to find the flowers ; but no one must pick any from 
the garden. 

Before they play Hippity Hop to the Greenhouse, it would 
be well to play the Garden Game. The children form a circle. 
Then one or two go inside and act out the song as the children 
sing : 

This is how we spade the ground. 
In our garden, in our garden ; 
This is the way we spade the ground, 
In our pretty garden bed. 

This is how we rake the ground, etc. 
This is how we sow the seed, etc. 
This is how we pull the weeds, etc. 
This is how we pick the flowers, etc. 



54 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Now that they know how the flowers are raised, they can 
Hippity Hop to the Greenhouse. The children form in a circle. 
Then one in the center skips around while the others sing : 

Hippity hop to the greenhouse 
To buy a bunch of flowers. 
One for you and one for me 
And one for little 

When they come to ''little " the child in the center 

names some one, takes her by the hand and skips ofl: to the 
garden to get a flower. Meanwhile the rest of the children 
sing "Tra la la" to the same tune. This is repeated till every 
one has been to the greenhouse. 

If the smallest children have not been able to enter heartily 
into all of these games, they will into Ring Around the Rosy. 
All join hands and skip together while they sing: 

A ring around the rosy ; 

A pocket full of posies. 

A ring around the rosy, 

And a pocket full of posies ; 

One, two, three and we'll all stoop down. 

At the word "down" they all stoop. 

Last but not least is the May Pole Dance. A very pretty 
effect is given if the children carry flowers in one hand while 
they skip. 

The only thing necessary for table decorations is a large 
bouquet of flowers. As the children have their flower baskets 
they will not need one for their candy. Serve lemonade, cake 
and candy. 

As there are stories for most every kind of a flower it would 
be well to choose one about some flower you have used. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 55 

Additional Games 



56 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



57 




Bird Party 



TiHE invitations for this party can either be made from 
scrap pictures of birds or can be cut from blue coated 
paper. If the bird is made from the blue paper it will 
require more work but will be much prettier. Cut the 
bird first, then paste it on white mounting paper. Leave room 
enough for the card on which the invitation is written. 

Birds made the same as the invitations can be pasted on the 
windows and hung from the chandelier by a black thread. 
Make a little bird house out of cardboard for the center of the 
table. If you could get some celluloid birds and have them 
perched on the ledge of the house it would be more realistic. 
The favors could be a little bird house or a candy basket like 



58 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



the one used at the Butterfly Party, taking a bird instead of 
the butterfly. For refreshments give the children lemonade 
and cookies. 

For the first game let them play Here Comes a Blue Bird. 
They form a circle, join hands and hold their arms up to make 
windows. One child, or more if the circle is large, goes in 
and out the windows. Then he takes a little partner and 
skips while the children sing : 

Here comes a blue bird 
Through the window ; 
Hi diddle dum te de de de. 

Takes a little partner, 
Skips through the garden ; 
Hi diddle dum te de de de. 

Strange as it may seem, the children sit to play Birds Fly. 
All but one sit in a circle. The one in the center names some- 
thing that flies, as blue bird, robin, etc., and the children make 
their hands go as if flying. The leader will try to catch the 
children by naming something that does not fly. The one that 
makes his hands move when something is mentioned that does 
not fly must go in the circle and the other comes out. 

Five children will be needed for Five Little Chickadees. 

All sit in a row on the floor and when they come to their 
number in the song below they fly away one at a time. When 
the last verse is sung they all fly back again. 

Five little Chickadees sitting on the floor; 
One flew away and then there were four. 

Chickadee, chickadee happy and gay 
Chickadee, chickadee fly away. 

Four little chickadees sitting in a tree ; 
One flew away and then there were three. 

Three little chickadees sitting by the shoe; 
One flew away and then there were two. 



Cho. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 59 

Two little chickadees sitting in the sun ; 
One flew away and then there was one. 

One little chickadee sitting all alone ; 
He flew away and then there was none. 

Five little chickadees that flew away; 
They'll come back some other day. 

Tell the children the story of ''How the Robin's Breast 
Became Red" or "The Legend of the Woodpecker," by Phoebe 
Gary. 



60 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 61 



Flag Party 



A^^ FLAG PARTY would be appropriate for a good many 
occasions during the year. It might be held on Lin- 
coln's or Washington's birthdays, on Flag Day in June, 
July 4th or at Thanksgiving time. The invitations are 
made from flags which are sold at two cents a dozen. Remove 
the stick and paste on a piece of paper twice the size of 
the flag. Fold the paper so the flag will be on the outside and 
write the invitation inside. 

All the games used are along the same line. First Flag Tag. 
One child carrying a flag is pursued by another. The first runs 
till he gets tired, or thinks he is going to be caught, and then 
gives the flag to another. The child who is "it" always tries 
to catch the one with the flag. 

Scatter Dennison's stars around the room and let the chil- 
dren Hunt for the Stars. As soon as they find one they bring 
it to the teacher who pastes it on a field of blue paper. To 
create a little rivalry, have two pieces of blue paper, one for 
the boys and one for the girls. 

Eight children will be needed for the Flag Race, four on 
each side. Those in each row stand as far away from one 
another as possible and the rows stand far enough apart so as 
to leave plenty of room to run. The leaders both have flags. 
At the word "Go" they run to the next child on their side and 
give it to him. That one carries it to the next and so on till 
the flag reaches the last child, who takes it back to the starting- 
point. The side getting the flag home first wins. 

Guarding the Flag. Two leaders choose players for their 
respective sides. A line is marked off on the floor. On each side 
of that at distances of about twelve feet from the line, a small 
flag is fastened. The leaders guard these flags. The object of 
the game is to capture the flag belonging to the other side. -The 
leaders try to prevent this by tagging anyone who comes near 



62 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

and the child tagged is out of the game. When a player 
carries the flag over into his own line, the game is won. 

Decorate the room with flags and bunting and have a flag 
for each child. Give them apples and cake to eat. Close the 
party with a good patriotic story. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 63 

Additional Games 



64 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



65 




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July 4th Party 



A 



T THIS time of the year a good many of the children 
will be away, but that is all the more reason why those 
who have to stay at home should be entertained. They 
will enjoy a party out of doors. 



To make invitations cut two strips of red mounting paper 
two by four inches in size and round off both ends. Paste 
these together so as to form a tube with one end closed. 
Now take a strip of white paper, one by two inches, and write 
the invitation on it. Tie a piece of brown cord to this to serve 
as a fuse ; push the white paper into the tube so as to leave the 
brown cord hanging out between the two pieces of red paper 
and you have a firecracker. 

The games, while not pertaining directly to the 4th of July, 
should be of a patriotic, nature. Let the children start out by 
playing Ring the Bell. Wind a barrel hoop with red, white 
or blue paper and hang a bell in the middle of it. Suspend 
the hoop so it will come about level with the children's heads. 
Give each of them a turn at trying to ring the bell by thro^wing 
a soft rubber ball through the hoop. 



66 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



For a marching game play Soldier Boy. Form a circle and 
have one child go inside carrying a flag. While he marches 
around the circle all sing: 

Soldier boy, soldier boy, where are you going. 
Bearing so proudly the red, white and blue? 
Fm going where country and duty are calling, 
If you'll be a soldier boy you may go too. 

When they come to "If you'll be a soldier boy" the one 
mside steps up and salutes one of the children on the circle 
who then joins him and they both march around. This is 
repeated till all are chosen. 

Give out pieces of red, white or blue tissue paper and tell 
them to fold a soldier's cap. While they are thus seated and 
quiet, tell the story of ''The Soldier," found in Kindergarten 
Review for February, 1912. If there is time, they will enjoy 
dramatizing it before going for refreshments. 

Over the center of the table suspend a large Liberty Bell. 
This is made by inverting a peach basket and covering it with 
gilt paper. Make the clapper of cotton and cover with black 
tissue paper. The candy basket is made from a red peanut 
cup, using wire for a handle. Cover the wire with red crepe 
paper and hang a little brass bell in the middle. If you do not 
care to make these baskets, give the children candy fixed so 
as to resemble sparklers and torpedoes. The sparklers are 
opera sticks wrapped first in paraffin paper and then in silver 
paper. The torpedoes are any round candy wrapped in paraf- 
fin paper and then with colored tissue paper. Serve fruit and 
cake. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 67 

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68 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 69 




Hallowe'en Party J 



I 



N PLANNING a Hallowe'en Party for small children, 
care must be taken not to have anythmg that will 
frighten them. The Jack o' Lantern idea would be a 
good one to carry out at this time of the year. For the 
invitations secure pumpkin colored bristol board, cut it in the 
shape of a pumpkin and write the words on so as to give it the 
appearance of a face. 

As the children arrive, take them to a table and give to each 
a circle of paper like the invitations. Give black watermelon 
seeds and some paste. Then let them make a pumpkin face. 
When they are ready to play games these faces can be pinned 
on their dresses. 

For one of the games secure the cover from a cheese box. 
Have a carpenter cut eyes, nose and a very large mouth^in it. 
Cover it with pumpkin colored paper and place on a low table. 



70 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



Let each child have a turn at throwing a small bean bag into 
the mouth. 

The children will all be present by this time and ready for 
a story. Tell them the "Big Red Apple," by Kate A\'hiting 
Patch. But instead of a "red apple to roast," substitute a yel- 
low pumpkins from which to make a lantern. Have nearby a 
large pumpkin which you can cut according to the children's 
directions. Some will want it one way and some another, but 
it won't be very hard to persuade one side to give in to the 
other. 

Put a candle in the lantern and light it. Then blindfold the 
children one at a time and let them try to blow out the candle. 

The lantern can be taken now and used for a centerpiece for 
the dining room table. The candy should be tied in pumpkin 
colored paper so as to resemble little pumpkins. This is done 
by taking a circle eight inches in diameter, put the candy in and 
gather the edges together, wrapping tight with green cord to 
form the stem. To further carry out the idea, serve cuddled 
apples with ciistard poured over them. These are made by 
cooking whole apples in a thick syrup till they are tender. 
Be sure that they are first cored and peeled. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 71 

Additional Games 



12 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home Th 




Hallowe'en Party 



Bi LACK CATS are supposed to prowl around on Hallow- 
e'en at night, but for the sake of the children they might 
come in the afternoon. Send the invitations out on cat 
heads cut from black mounting paper, with eyes, nose 
and mouth put on with white ink. Ask the guests to bring 
a glass of jelly for children in the hospital. 

Of course they will want to see the black cats, but first they 
will have to find them. Have on hand a good supply. They 
can either be cut from black bristol board or purchased from 
Dennison's for ten cents a dozen. 

Let the first game be Hunt the Black Cat. One is hidden 
in the room before the children come. Some one who knows 
were the cat is, tells when they are "hot" or ''cold." Or one 



74 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

might play the piano loudly when they are near and softly 
when they are far away. Whoever succeeds in finding the cat 
may pin it to the wall. 

There is still another cat to find. This time it is not hiding, 
but is rapidly passing behind the circle of children. One sits 
in the middle of the floor and the rest gather close together 
in a circle. The one in the center tries to find the cat which 
the children on the circle are passing behind them. When this 
cat is found it too can be pinned to the wall. 

The next game requires forfeits. Give each of the children 
a black cat for the purpose. One is chosen for Poor Pussy 
and he goes up to each player and says ''Meow." The one 
addressed must say "Poor Pussy" without smiling. Pussy 
says "Meow" three times and if the child does not laugh or 
smile, Pussy goes on. If, however, he does smile, he gives up 
his black cat to Pussy, who pins it on the wall. The one who 
smiles becomes Pussy. The game continues till all the cats are 
on the wall. 

A game more in keeping with the characteristics of the cat 
is Pussy Wants a Corner. Most every one knows how to play 
this game. If they do not, the directions are given with the 
Animal Party. 

If held in a room with no covering on the floor, the final 
game could be a Hunting Game also. Before the children 
arrive, draw arrows on the floor curving all around the room. 
Have these lead at last to the dining room, where will be found 
black cat candy boxes for every one. These are made by 
pasting black cat heads like the invitations, only sm.aller, over 
a square pill box. If the covers are put on tight, the boxes will 
stand up so that the cats will show better. Cocoa and cake 
would make suital)le refresliments. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 75 

Additional Games 



76 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



n 




Autumn Party 



TiHERE are many things in the fall for which children 
should be thankful. Not the least of these are the 
beauties of nature. Everywhere the trees are putting 
on their beautiful dresses of red and gold. Perhaps the 
day before the party you could go to the woods and gather 
some leaves to decorate your room. Nothing would be pret- 
tier for the table than a large bunch of bright red leaves in 
a basket. 

If you cannot secure these, buy a roll of Dennisoia's leaf 
crepe paper with brown background. Cut out the leaves and 



78 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

scatter over the table. These could also be wired, fastened on 
twigs and put in the basket, the same as real ones. If you 
have cut the leaves out carefully there will probably be enough 
of the brown paper left to make candy baskets. Get small 
peanut cups and put a frill of brown crepe paper around them. 
The cups could be made still prettier by putting one or two 
rows of red crepe paper rope around them. There seems to be 
only one thing appropriate for refreshments and that is red 
apples. 

The invitations should be cut out of either brown, red or 
yellow mounting paper. As leaves are to predominate at this 
party, have the invitations in that form. 

Scatter around the room in rather secluded places, a large 
number of autumn leaves. When the children arrive, let them 
Gather the Leaves. The one finding the largest number might 
have the first turn for the next game. 

Catching Leaves. This game is played like tip toe tag. One 
child flies around in the circle like a leaf and touches some 
other child's hand. This one then tries to catcli the leaf. 
When it is caught the player goes back to the circle and the 
one who was touched becomes a leaf. 

Dropping Leaves. Give to each child three or four leaves. 
Have them hold their arms out in front of them and drop the 
leaves in a basket. Being light they will fly around and very 
few will go into the basket. 

Children imitate the fall occupations when they play In the 
Fall. Have them join hands and circle to the right for the first 
half of the song, then reverse. One child in the center gives 
gestures illustrating some fall occupation while all the others 
sing. When they come to the last two lines all give the 
gestures : 

In the fall, in the fall. 
Dancing gaily, dancing gaily. 
In the fall, in the fall. 
Dancing gaily as we sing. 
Children all do this way, 
Then again do that way. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 79 



Before the story is told, let some one play a selection of 
quiet music while all the children fly around like autumn leaves 
and then settle down at the feet of the story teller. An 
appropriate story for this time of the year would be either : 

''The Snowflake and the Leaf," by Helen Preble, or 
"The Anxious Leaf," by Henry Ward Beecher. 



80 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 81 




T 



Thanksgiving Party 

HE predominating feature of this party is the turkey. 
Cut one from gray mounting paper and touch it up a 
little with red ink. Cut a slit under the wing through 
which run a piece of white paper. Write the invitation 
on this. It might read : 

Gobble, gobble, gobble, 

Come to our Thanksgiving Party 

Wednesday at 3 o'clock. 

Let one of the children be Mr. Turkey and one Mr. Duck. 
The duck waddles up to the turkey and the turkey says, 
''Gobble, gobble, gobble." The duck answers, "Quack," quack, 



82 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



quack," and turns to go away, walking waddle, waddle, waddle 
all the time. The children will have great fun imitating these 
two fowls. 

Next they can play Chickeny, Chickeny, Crany Crow. One 
child is the crow and one the hen. The latter chooses as many 
chickens as she thinks she can take care of easily. The 
mother and the chickens walk around the crow singing : 

Chickeny, chickeny, crany crow. 

Went to the well, ho, ho, ho, ho, 

When she got there her chickens were gone, 

What time is it? 

The crow answers, "One o'clock." This is repeated till they 
come to four o'clock, and at that the mother hen gets her chil- 
dren in a line behind her and the crow tries to catch them. He 
must capture the last one first. If any child lets go of the one 
in front of him, he and all behind him are out of the game. 
The crow must catch each one of the chickens and then the 
hen. 

Catching the Turkey is a new way to speak of an old game. 
One child is blindfolded and tries to catch another in the circle. 
The second child must say, ''Gobble, gobble, gobble," to give 
the one blindfolded a clew as to where the turkey is. AVhen 
the turkey is caught he must be blindfolded and another is 
chosen. 

For a Hunting Game hide candy corn all around the room. 
Let the children be turkeys and hunt for it. 

A barnyard of turkeys would make an attractive centerpiece 
for the dining room table. Get a large pan and fill it with 
sand, placing six or eight little turkeys in it. These can 
be bought at most any department store for five or ten cents, 
according to the size. Give the children fancy peanut cup? 
filled with candy corn. It is not likely that one could aflford 
turkey, so give them individual pumpkin pies. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 83 

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84 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 85 



Thanksgiving Party 



TiHE invitations for this are made from pictures taken 
from cans of corn. Cut a piece of white paper to corre- 
spond to corn and write the invitation on it. Then 
paste the two together at the stem end. 
The games used throughout this party are those relating 
to the farmer and can all be found in "Children's Singing 
Games, Old and New," by Mari Hofer. 

Start out by playing Farmer in the Dell. The farmer takes 
his wife ; the wife takes the child ; the child takes the nurse ; 
the nurse takes the dog; the dog takes the cat; the cat takes 
the rat; the rat takes the cheese; the cheese takes the plate, 
and the plate stands alone. 

Now that the farmer has his wife and all the rest of his 
household, he will be ready to plant the garden. Garden 
Game.* This is how we spade the ground, rake it, then sow 
the seed and hoe the corn. 



*Explained on page 53. 

Oats, Peas, Beans 

Oats, peas, beans and barley grow, 

Oats, peas, beans and barley grow; 

Can you or I or anyone know 

How oats, peas, beans and barley grow? 

Thus the farmer sows his seed, 

Thus he stands and takes his ease, 

Stamps his foot and claps his hands, 

And turns around and views the land ; 

Waiting for a partner, 

Waiting for a partner. 

Goes to the ring and chooses one in 

While all the children dance and sing. 
The children form a circle and one goes inside to imper- 
sonate the farmer. All act out the words. When they come 
to the part where it says, "Goes to ring," the farmer chooses 
one of the children from the circle and they skip while the 
children sing "Tra la la." 



86 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

^^' hen the grain is ripe it is then time to mow it. 

Mow, Mow the Oats 

Mow, mow the oats, 
Who shall do the binding? 
I've a little partner, 
But I cannot find him. 

Bind, bind the sheaves, 
Who shall dp the threshing? 
Wlien the harvest work is done, 
Then I'll surely get him. 

The children dance and sing in simple circle, and at the 
singing of the last line they drop hands and turn to get the 
partners they have previously agreed upon in their own minds. 
As two often choose the same one, great merriment arises. 

The last thing the farmer does is to take the grain to the 
miller. So a suitable closing game would be Jolly Is the Miller. 

Jolly is the miller who lives by the mill, 

The wheel goes round with a right good will, 

One hand in the hopper and the other in the sack. 

The right steps forward and the left steps back. 

A double circle is formed for this game, with the miller 
inside. The children in the circle march, and when they come 
to "The right steps forward," they change partners, the miller 
trying to get one. The child left without a partner becomes 
the miller. 

The party would not be complete without the "Story of the 
First Corn." 

At Thanksgiving time you will probably be able to get 
plenty of cornstalks with which to decorate. But as you would 
not care to give cornflakes or cornmeal mush for refreshments, 
serve fruit and use it as a center piece for the table. Make 
ears of corn for each of the children. To do this, take two 
pieces of white tissue pai)er five inches long and two and one- 
half inches wide. Round ofT one end and paste together all 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 87 



around except at the straight end. Fill with cracker jack. 
Then wrap the ear with green crepe paper the same length 
and about six inches wide. About half way down cut the 
paper into the shape of points placed about an inch apart. 
Fasten securely at the end with green cord. 



88 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 89 




Christmas-Stocking Party 



TiHE Christmas Party is one the children look forward 
to with most delight and one over which most folks 
feel justified in being a little extravagant. Even if 
you have not decorated for the other parties, you will 
want to do so for this one. Whatever scheme you are carrying 
out, you will need a Christmas tree. Some schools have two 
trees, one trimmed for their own children and another with 
presents which they bring for less fortunate little ones. 

It is not well to introduce Santa Claus into the Sunday 
School session at all, but it would do no harm to bring in some 
of the Santa Claus ideas at a party. Stockings cut from red 
bristol board might have the invitations written on thenj. But 
you can get them ready made with toys sticking out of the top. 



90 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



There is a blank card on the side just large enough for the 
invitation. 

Draw a fireplace on a large piece of paper and pin it to a 
sheet which has been tacked to the wall. Give each child a 
little red tarlatan stocking and a pin. Blindfold them, one at 
a time, and let each pin his stocking on the fireplace. Some 
may go into the fire, but that only adds to the fun. 

For Disappearing Stockings you will need five or six small 
tarlatan stockings. In one put nuts, in another candy, in 
another popcorn, etc. Place them in a row on the floor and 
let every one take a good look. One child blindfolds his eyes 
while another removes one of the stockings. The one blind- 
folded opens his eyes and tells which stocking has been taken 
away. 

Another game is Feeling the Stocking. For this you will 
need a real stocking, so the children can not see what is in it. 
One child goes out of the room and gets a toy which he puts 
in the stocking. The children guess what is inside by the 
feeling. The one guessing correctly has the next turn to fill 
the stocking. 

Tell the story of ''Santa Claus and the Mouse," by Emilie 
Poulsson, or 'Ticcola," by Celia Thaxter. 

If the Sunday School furnishes boxes of candy for the chil- 
dren, pile them on the table and wrap Dennison's crepe paper 
around them. You could use either the paper with a fireplace 
or that with brick on it. If boxes of candy are not furnished, 
make stockings from red tarlatan and fill with popcorn and 
candy. Serve ice cream cones. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 91 

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92 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 93 



Christmas Party 



Tw^HE invitations for this party are made from holly paper. 

I Fold the paper and cut it into a double circle. In the top 

i circle cut another smaller one leaving the white showing 

underneath. On this part write "A Merry Christmas to 

You." Then open and write the invitation around the edge. 

The room should be decorated in wreaths and should have 
at least one Christmas tree. Hang one of the wreaths where 
it can be used for the Wreath Game. Give the children three 
snow balls made from cotton and wrapped in white tissue 
paper. These they throw, one at a time, through the wreath. 

Next let them Skip Around the Christmas Tree.* All join 



*In using lighted candles where there are children, great care must 
be taken to have them fastened securely so they will not tip over. 
Never light the candles till there are plenty of grown folks to help 
watch the children, and as soon as the game is over, blow the^ candles 
out. 



94 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

hands and skip around the tree several times ; then they stop, 
walk up to the tree and back again three times. The last time 
they all blow, each trying to put out a candle. 

Did You Ever See a Christmas Tree, is a came in which the 
children imitate the different things on a tree. One child goes 
in the center of the circle while all the others sing : 

Did you ever see a Christmas tree, 

Christmas tree, Christmas tree? 
Did you ever see a Christmas tree 

With hanging on it? 

Cho. With hanging on it, 

With hanging on it. 

Did you ever see a Christmas tree 
With hanging on it ? 

When they come to ''With " the child in the 

center chooses some toy, as a horn, drum, ball, etc., and imi- 
tates it, all the children following the leader while they sing 
the chorus. These toys can actually be on the Christmas tree 
or the children can choose something which they think mi^ht 
have been on it. 

For the last game play Christmas Candles. Secure a small 
table Christmas tree and put several candles on it. When they 
are all lit have one of the children who has l^ecn blindfolded 
walk up to the tree and blow them out. This looks so easy 
that they will probably all want a turn. 

At the close of the candle game tell the story of "How the 
Fir Tree Became the Christmas Tree" or ''The Legend of tlie 
Christmas Tree.'' Both stories are found in "For the Chil- 
dren's Hour." 

Use little Christmas trees for the table decorations. At 
each place have a cup cake on a paper doily and put a candle 
on it. Light them just before the children come into the room. 
As soon as all are seated each one blows out his own. For 
refreshments use vanilla brick ice cream. Cut each slice into 
the shape of a wreath with a doughnut cutter and put red 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 95 



candies on top. The cream that is left need not be wasted but 
can be put in sherbet glasses and served to the visitors. If 
home-made candy is given make it out of fondant and shape 
in the form of a wreath the same as with the ice cream. 



96 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 97 




Christmas Party 



CiHRISTMAS should not be only a time of receiving. 
Make this by all means a giving party. Have the chil- 
dren bring toys for less fortunate children. Those who 
cannot bring new ones may give money with which to 
buy them. If you have used the Christmas tree some former 
year and want something new, use bells. 

Get as many peach baskets as you think will be needed to 
hold the toys and cover them with red crepe paper or with 
holly. These baskets turned upside down make very good 
imitations of bells. The toys the children bring are placed on a 
low table and covered with the baskets. Some schools have a 
Giving Christmas with each class presenting its gift in some 
novel way. The class that gives the toys might place the bells 
in little wagons and when they reach the platform, lift them 
up, letting the toys spread all over. 

At Christmas time it might also be well to make the enter- 
tainment different from those given at other times of the year. 



98 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Most of the children will have learned little Christmas songs 
and recitations at school or kindergarten and would like a 
chance to give them all by themselves. So allow part of the 
afternoon for an impromptu program. After the children 
have given their part, close the entertainment by having some 
one tell the story of *'Why the Chimes Rang," by Alden. 

There will still be a little time left for games and they should 
be about bells. First try Finding the Bell. Form a circle, 
two going inside. One child has a bell and the other is blind- 
folded. The one blindfolded tries to catch the other, being 
guided by the sound of the bell. 

Arrange in two rows for Passing the Bells. The leaders 
are each given one and at the word "go" they both hand a bell 
to the one next in line, and so on down. As soon as it reaches 
the end, it is passed back. The side getting it back to the 
leader first, wins. 

Another game is Ringing the Bell. Wind a barrel hoop 
with evergreen and hang a bell in the middle of it. Suspend 
the hoop so it will come about on a level with the children's 
heads. Give each a cotton ''snow ball" to throw through the 
hoop. 

Red tissue paper bells can be bought very reasonably. These 
may be used for decorating the room. In the center of the 
table place boxes of candy and cover with a bell similar to the 
ones used above for toys. This time serve ice cream sand- 
wiches. They are made by putting a thin slice of ice cream 
between two Xabiscos. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 99 

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100 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 101 




A 



Fish Party 

FTER the children have been away all summer there is 
no better way to bring them back into the Sunday 
School and to quickly arouse their interest, than by 
giving a party. Something very appropriate for this 
occasion would be a Fishing Party. 

Secure a good supply of scrap pictures of fish for invitations 
and games ; or if you have been saving pictures on cans of 
salmon, as some teachers do, you can use them. If neither of 
these are available, cut the fish out of colored paper. 

One fishing game which children like very much is played 
something like Pinning the Tail on the Donkey, only in this 
you take a Fish Out of the Lake. On a sheet which has been 
stretched across one side of the room, pin enough fish of 
different sizes and colors so each player can have one. The 
child blindfolded walks up to the sheet and tries to pick off 
a fish. 

No one would think of having a fishing party without a 
Fish Pond. To make the pond screen off one corner. There 
are many things that could be used for fish, but for the sake 
of economy and that all may fare alike, why not give them 
sticks of candy. Catching the fish with a line will keep them 
amused for some time. 

For a marching play try the Snail Game. Form in line and 
have all join hands and march. The leader, who is the snail, 



102 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



stands still while the other children wind around him to form 
the shell. \\^hen this is formed, they march the other way 
and unwind. 

If a story is wanted, what better could be told than the 
Arabian tale of "The Genius." 

When the children go into another room for refreshments 
they find many more fish in the lake. For the center of the 
table have a large looking glass and on this several little cellu- 
loid fish, frogs and a little canoe. Then at each place attach 

a fishing line to a candy fish in the lake. The line is made of 
ordinary twine and a small flag stick. Flags are only two 
cents a dozen. These may be saved for a future patriotic 
party. Besides the candy serve cake and fruit. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 103 

Additional Games 



104 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



105 




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Can Party 



TlHE invitations for this party are made of white paper 
with a piece of red in the middle. Cut them double and 
on the outside write "Can Party." Inside on the right 
paste one of the little Campbell soup rhymes which 
appear every month in nearly all the magazines. On the other 
side write the invitation. 

Have the guests bring cans of soup which may be used as 
a center piece for the table and later taken to a Day Nursery. 
As children always like to have something to take horrTe, make 



106 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

little cans to hold confectionery. The easiest way is to secure 
round pill boxes for the bottom of the cans. For the rest, 
take a strip of paper three inches high and long enough to go 
around the pill box. Paste red paper across the top half to 
make it look like a can of Campbell's soup. Fill with jelly 
beans. For the soup serve cocoa with cake or wafers. 

While the early comers wait for the others to arrive, let them 
play bean bag. Place a large tin can in the center of the circle 
and let them take turns throwing the bean bag into it. 

Following this might come a Can Race. Three chairs are 
placed at each end of the room. A child stands beside each 
chair at one end of the room. On the other chairs are placed 
three small empty cans. At a given signal each player goes 
across the room, gets a can and takes it to the chair from 
which he started. This is repeated till all the cans have been 
taken to the opposite end of the room, The children clap for 
the swiftest child. 

By this time they will be ready for a more quiet game. Let 
them sit on the floor and try Rolling a Ball into a can which 
has been laid flat on the floor. 

While they are still seated tell them the story of the "Three 
Bears" and let them dramatize it. One of the larger boys 
might be the father bear, a large girl the mother bear, and 
one of the smallest children could take the part of baby 
bear. One other child will be needed for the little girl who 
went into the bears* house. In this they will need a table 
with imaginary dishes, three chairs and three beds. The chil- 
dren will probably think of a way to make the beds ; if not, 
suggest that they do it by placing two chairs together. 

When they are through acting out the story they will no 
doubt be hungry enough to eat almost anything, so have the 
dining room ready. Let them march in for refreshments. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 107 

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108 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 109 



Peanut Party 



PlEANUT games are so numerous that it will be no trouble 
at all to keep the children amused at a Peanut Party. 
A generous supply of peanuts will be needed for invita- 
tions and games. Write the invitation on white paper 
and place inside of a peanut shell. Tie this together with 
ribbon. 

Following is a list of games which even the smaller children 
can play and the older ones will enjoy equally as well: 

Peanut Contest 

Spearing Peanuts 

Peanut Race 

Dropping Peanuts in a Bottle 

Peanut Hunt 

Peanut Contest. Have two dishes of peanuts at one end of 
the room and two empty dishes at the other end. Two players 
are given knives and told to pick up as many peanuts as they 
can, carrying them to the dish at the other end of the room. 
Each child has three turns. The one carrying most peanuts 
wins. 

Spearing Peanuts. Have a large dish filled with peanuts. 
As many children can play this game as can get around the 
dish. Give each child a hat pin and let them spear the nuts. 
The one having the most peanuts at the end of five minutes 
is winner. 

Peanut Race. Place as many peanuts as there are children 
in a row on the floor. Give each child a toothpick. At the 
word "Go," they roll the peanuts to the other end of the 
room by pushing with the toothpicks. Care must be taken 
that nothing else touches the peanut. 

Dropping Peanuts in a Bottle. Each child is given six or 
eight peanuts and tries to drop them into an empty milk 
bottle one at a time. It is surprising how few really go in. 

Peanut Hunt. For the last game give each player ^ small 
paper bag. Let the children hunt for peanuts which previously 



110 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



been hidden around the room. Each one is allowed to eat 
all he finds. 

For the center of the dining room table make a little card- 
board house and cover it with peanuts. If the one giving the 
party has plenty of time for preparation let each guest receive 
a peanut doll as a favor. Serve cocoa, peanut butter sand- 
wiches, and peanut cookies. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 111 

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112 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



113 






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Mother Goose Party 



TiHERE was an old woman who lived in a shoe; she had 
so many children she didn't know what to do." Per- 
haps you think you are that woman and that it would 
be impossible to give a party to as many children as 
you have. But just try a Mother Goose Party. 

From any kindergarten supply house secure sufficient black 

coated paper for the invitations. Cut them double in the 

shape of a shoe. On the outside paste several scrap picture 

heads, or small heads cut from magazines. On the inside write 

the invitation. 



114 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



The entire afternoon can be spent in telling Mother Goose 
rhymes and dramatizing them. For instance : 

Little Miss Muffett 

She sat on a tuffett 

Eating her curds and whey, 

When along came a spider, 

Who sat down beside her 

And frightened Miss MuflFett away. 

While they are reciting, one little child sits on a chair in 
the middle of the circle with a pan and a spoon, "eating her 
curds and whey." A boy comes creeping from behind and 
"sits down beside her." When Miss Muffett sees the spider 
she is very much frightened. She throws down her pan and 
spoon and runs back to her place in the circle. 

Another game very much like Little Miss Muffett is : 

A Little Boy Went Into a Bam 

And lay down on some hay ; 
An owl came out and flew about 
And the little boy ran away. 

Have one child be the boy and lay down on the floor. 
Another should be the owl and fly around, frightening away 
the boy. 

Jack Be Nimble, 

Jack be quick, 

Jack jump over the candlestick. 

For this game have three candles in a row about two feet 
apart. I^et the players jump over them one at a time. If 
small children are playing the game, use ordinary sized can- 
dles ; if they are larger, get the candles longer. The object 
of the game is to jump from one to the other rapidly without 
knocking over the candles. 

Humpty Dumpty Sat On a Wall, 

llumpty Dumpty had a great fall; 

All the king's horses and all the king's men 

Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 115 



Six or eight children stoop down in a row close together. 
The others repeat the verse. When they come to "had a great 
fall," the player falls over on the one next, thus causing the 
whole row to fall. One child representing the ''king's men" 
tries to set them up again, but fails. 

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn, 
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn, 
Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep? 
He's under the haystack, fast asleep. 

One child is Little Boy Blue and has a horn. He goes away 
and hides. The others repeat the rhyme. When they have 
finished, Little Boy Blue blows his horn very softly, thus 
giving the players a clew as to where he is. The first one to 
find him becomes Boy Blue. 

Most of the children know 

Peas Pudding Hot, 

Peas pudding cold. 

Peas pudding in the pot 

Nine days old. 

Some like it hot, 
Some like it cold, 
Some like it in the pot 
Nine days old. 

Let the children choose partners for playing this game. It 
is the old slapping game which most of the children know. 
Those who do not know it will soon learn it by watching the 
others. 

Of course you would not forget 

Little Jack Horner who sat in a corner 

Eating a Christmas pie; 

He stuck in his thumb and he pulled out a plum 

And said "What a good boy am L" 



116 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



This can be used for the center piece on the table. Take a 
pan and cover with paper. Inside put a piece of candy for 
each child and run a string from the candy to the children's 
places. After they have repeated the verse each one pulls 
his string and gets his "plum." The cookies might be put in 
little bags representing the bags of wool in "Ba-a, ba-a, black 
sheep." The rest of the refreshments might consist of the 
supper the ''Old Woman in the Shoe" gave to her children, or 
it might be cocoa. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 117 

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118 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children''s Parties for Sunday School and Home 



119 



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Animal Party 



TlHE fact that there are so many animal games shows 
that the children like them. So they will like an Ani- 
mal Party. Cut the invitations in the shape of any 
animal you prefer, or they can be made from scrap 
pictures or cut from advertisement cards. 

Although there are so many animal games, only the easiest 
and most common ones have been selected. The most familiar 
one no doubt is Fox and Goose. One child is chosen for fox 
and one for goose. The rest join hands and form a circle. 
The fox tries to catch the goose. The children must let the 
goose in and out the circle as he wishes but must keep the fox 
from getting where the goose is. 

Pussy Wants a Corner is an old game but one the children 
never tire of. All but one stand in a corner. If there are not 
enough corners, chairs may be used. One child, who is Puss, 
goes around from child to child saying, "Pussy wants a cor- 
ner." The child replies, "Next door neighbor." They change 
with one another and pussy tries to get a corner whilethey are 



120 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



changing. When he gets one the child left without a corner 
becomes Puss. 

A Donkey Game can either be made at home or purchased 
at the store. It consists of a tailless donkey and enough loose 
tails for each child to have one. Fasten the donkey to the 
wall. Blindfold the children and let them walk up, one at a 
time, and pin the tail on the donkey. 

Lrook Out for the Bear is a game in which all the children 
can take part. One is the Bear. While ail the others have 
their eyes blinded he goes and hides. When the bear is se- 
curely hidden the children go on a hunt for him. The first one 
to see the bear calls out, ''Look out for the bear" and all run 
back to the goal, the bear after them. The first one caught 
becomes the bear. 

Another animal game is Cat and Mouse. The children sit 
in two rows on the floor facing each other, but with plenty 
of room between them. One is chosen for the cat and one 
for the mouse. Both are blindfolded and start from opposite 
ends of the row. The cat tries to catch the mouse as they 
pass each other. When the mouse is caught he becomes the 
cat and another child is chosen for the mouse. 

If the children want to march, have a circus parade before 
going into the dining room. Each one decides which animal 
he wants to be and while marching, the lions roar, the bears 
growl, the cats mew, etc. The story of "The Three Bears" 
is a good one with which to quiet the children before they have 
refreshments. 

In the dining room there is another circus parade. This 
time it is of animal crackers. Little round crackers are 
frosted and, while the frosting is still soft, animal crackers are 
stuck onto them. Candy mice are also found at each place. In 
the center of the table have different kinds of toy animals. 
Serve lemonade and cake. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 121 

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122 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



123 



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Temperance Party 



TiO MANY teachers a Temperance Party is the last thing 
they would think of, but why could not one be given to 
emphasize the right uses of fruits and grains? It is 
surprising how quickly a child will learn verses in con- 
nection with games which he would otherwise think too hard 
to learn. With this in mind use as many temperance verses 
as possible throughout the party. 

The invitation might be cut from black mounting paper in 
the shape of an opened umbrella. On one side write with 
white ink the temperance verse : 

"Each flower holds up its dainty cup 

To catch the rain and dew ; 
The drink for flowers that comes from showers 

Is just the drink for you." 



124 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



On the other side of the umbrella write the invitation. 

One way to use corn is to pop it. Have several large pans 
filled with popcorn and as the children arrive, give them 
needles and thread with which to String the Com. If the 
party is held near Christmas the strings may be kept for the 
tree. If it is held at some other time during the year, ask the 
children if they would not like to send the pretty strings of 
popcorn to some children who do not have good things to eat. 
Explain that their fathers spend their money for wrong things 
that are made from corn. 

When the children tire of this let them have a Popcorn Hunt. 
Secure enough small paper bags so that each child may have 
one. Fill with popcorn and hide them around the room before 
the children come. They probably ate some corn while string- 
ing it, but will be glad to have some more. 

A Little Stream had lost its way 

Amid the grass and ferns, 
A passing stranger scooped a well 

Where weary men might turn. 

He walled it in and hung with care 

A ladle at the brink; 
He thought not of the deed he did, 

But judged that all might drink. 

He passed again, and lo, the well 

By summer never dried ; 
He cooled ten thousand parching tongues 

And saved a life beside. 

In this game one child is chosen for the "stranger." Half of 
the children 1)y holding hands make the "stream." It winds in 
and out until it comes to the "stranger." He leads the "stream" 
around in a circle, thus forming the "well." The rest of the 
children can "get a drink" from the well. 

Ten Little Temperance Boys. 

One little temperance boy to his work so true 
Pledged another little boy, and then there were two. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 125 

Chorus 

Temperance boys, temperance boys, happy and gay ; 
Temperance boys, temperance boys, jolly are they. 

Two little temperance boys from bad habits free 
Got another boy to join, and then there were three. 

Three little temperance boys never drank or swore, 
Taught a boy he must not smoke, and then there were four. 

Four little temperance boys to their work alive. 
Helped another little boy, and then there were five. 

Five little temperance boys, eyes very bright 
Soon started number six on the road to right. 

Six little temperance boys looked up to heaven. 
Cheered a playmate on the way, and then there were seven. 

Seven little temperance boys, alcohol they hate, 

Told a fellow of the wrong, and then there were eight. 

Eight little temperance boys, touch not, taste not wine. 
Asked a schoolmate not to drink, and then there were nine. 

Nine little temperance boys at work with voice and pen. 
Soon joined another boy and then there were ten. 



This makes a good game for the older children. One boy 
goes into the middle of the circle while the others join hands 
and march around him singing the verses above to the tune 
of ''Five Little Chickadees." As each verse is sung another 
boy joins the one in the middle. When they come to the 
chorus, all stand still and clap their hands. Those in the 
center find places on the circle while singing the chorus to the 
last verse. By changing a few of the words the game could be 
played the second time by "ten little temperance girls." 

When the children are through with their games, tell them 
the ''Harvest Story," by Nella F. Ford. Then let them 
have a temperance march. There should be a leader for the 
girls carrying a temperance flag, and a leader for the boys 
carrying an American flag. The boys and girls march' around 



126 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



the room in opposite directions for a while, then come together 
and march two abreast into the dining room. 

Have everything there in white as far as possible. In the 
center of the table have a bouquet of white carnations or some 
other white flower which : 

*' — holds up its dainty cup 
To catch the rain and dew." 

As a souvenir of the party give' each child a white ribbon 
bow for : 

*'My little bow of white 
Will help me to do right." 

Grapes or apples could be served for refreshments. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 127 

Additional Games 



128 Chujkex's Pattles for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 129 






W. 



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Japanese Party 



JlAPAX, the land of beauty, is surely a good subject for 
a party. As nearly all little children nowadays have 
kimonos, this could be a dress-up party. Cut the invi- 
tations double from wall-paper in the shape of lanterns. 
Write the invitation inside. Also write there on the opposite 
side words telling the children to wear kimonos and to bring 
their dolls. 

Without being directed they w411 enjoy for quite a while 
looking at each other's dolls and playing with them. When 
ready for the games, the dolls can all be put in a row to watch 
the children play or can be strapped on their mothers' backs. 
As the Japanese games are a little more quiet than the African 
game, the dolls would be quite safe on their owners' backs. 

Japanese children like to play Ball too, but they have their 
own way of doing it. In Japan the child bounces the ball real 
hard, turns clear around and tries to face forward ig^ain in 



130 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

time to hit the ball as it strikes the floor and rebounds. He 
tries to do this five times in succession. 

Instead of playing with bean bags the children of Japan 
play with rice and call the game Otadama. Each one has 
three or four bags, two inches square, filled with rice. Each 
child plays by himself, tossing the bags into the air and trying 
to keep them all going at once. 

Konkonchiki is played by three children at a time. Two 
hold the ends of a sash or a piece of ribbon in which a loose 
knot has been tied. The third child tries to put a ball through 
the knot before the others can draw it up or catch his hand 
away. 

Let the boys play the rest of the games alone while the girls 
amuse themselves with their dolls and watch the boys. 

A game best fitted for boys is Serpent's Tail, They all take 
hold of one another and the first boy, who is the head, tries to 
catch the last, who is the tail. Should any boy let go of the 
one in front of him, he and all those behind him must drop out 
of the game. It continues till each boy has been caught. If 
there is still time the boys can play hop scotch and shuttle 
cock. 

In the dining room hang as many Japanese lanterns as you 
can get. For the table make a cherry tree using many pink 
blossoms. Any small branch would answer for the cherry tree. 
Use a little green paper for the leaves and pink for the blos- 
soms. Have several Japanese dolls sitting underneath the tree. 

Serve pineapple rice and cake. To make the former, drop 
the rice in hot water and boil for twenty minutes. When ready 
to serve add a little sugar, some grated pineapple and a spoon- 
ful of whipped cream. Instead of giving the children a candy 
box to take home, give each of the girls a little Japanese fan 
for their hair and give the boys a package of Japanese flowers, 
the kind that open in water. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 131 

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132 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 133 




Table Set for African Party 



134 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



135 










A 



An African Party 

N African Party would have no special attraction for 
children unless they have been studying about African 
children, but those who have will enjoy playing they are 
little Africans. 



The invitations should be cut from heavy brown paper in 
the shape of an African hut. 

Ball seems to be played everywhere, so it might be well to 
start out with this. In Africa the children form a line and 
one throws a ball past the line. Each boy tries to spear it as 
it passes. As American children would not be able to do that, 
give each one a small cane, similar to those which come on 
pennants, and let them try to stop the ball as it passes. 

Some other African games, although not entirely different 
from ours, are Kalurembo, Blind Man's Buff and Hen and 
Wild Cat. In playing Kalurembo the one who is "it" is called 
the lion and the others are the deer. The lion catches the deer 
just as we would catch one another in a game of hide and seek. 

For Blind Man's Buff two children are blindfolded. The 
one who is being pursued has two flat sticks which he strikes 



136 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



together. This gives the one pursuing some idea of where he 
is. After striking the sticks, the other runs away. He waits a 
minute and if he is not caught, strikes the sticks again. The 
pursuer has a cloth with which he tries to strike the other 
child. 

In Hen and Wild Cat one is chosen for the Wild Cat and 
one for the Hen. The rest of the children are Chickens. The 
hen leads the chickens around and yvarns them of approaching 
danger. The wild cat springs at them and tries to catch one. 
The game continues till all have been caught. 

Basket, while not much of a game, would be fun for the 
children to play. Each is given a small basket to carry on his 
head. At the word "go" they start for the other end of the 
room. The object is to see which one can get there first. 

All children love to hear the story of ''Black Sambo," no 
matter how many times they have heard it before. So tell it 
to them before going to the dining room. 

The table can be fixed up like an African kraal. In the center 
have one large hut. This is made of heavy brown bristol 
board. For the wall of the hut cut a strip five and one-half 
inches high and thirty inches long and paste the two ends to- 
gether ; cut a hole for the door. The top of the hut is made 
from a circle fourteen inches in diameter w^ith about four inches 
of circumference taken out. Paste together the two edges 
where the section was removed. This forms the pointed roof. 
Make little huts as souvenirs for the children. Have two or 
three colored dolls sitting by the big one and little black baby 
candies near the little huts. Serve cocoa and cake. 



Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 137 

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138 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 139 



Post Card Party 



I^|F YOU are looking for something novel, try a Post 
Card Party. Write the invitations on any pretty post 
card and ask the children to bring as many old ones as 
they can. 

The people here do not realize how many uses missionaries 
can make of any kind of a picture card. In some countries 
colored pictures are almost unknown and grown people are 
as eager for them as the children. Post cards which the 
children bring can be prepared and sent to the missionary 
of your church. 

Have ready for the children's use tables, chairs, paste, paste- 
sticks and paper. At some stores you can get paper just post 
card size. This will save your cutting it. When the children 
arrive, let them go to the table and paste a piece of paper over 
the address side of the card. They will be kept busy at this for 
quite a while. They will enjoy looking at the pictures them- 
selves as well as preparing them to send to some one else. 

Save out a few cards to use in the games. You will 
need about twenty for the Mail Man's Race. Make two mail 
bags out of brown cambric. Put the same number of cards in 
each bag. Line the children up in two rows. At a given signal 
the mail carriers start to deliver their cards, one to each child. 
The first one who disposes of his mail and gets back to the 
starting point, wins. 

The mail carriers go "Round and Round the Village." So let 
the children do it too. They form a circle. One child walks 
around this while the others sing. At the second verse they 
join hands, raising them so as to form windows. At the third 
verse the child acting as mail carrier stands and faces one in 
the circle. When they come to the last verse the child chosen 
follows the other around the inside. Then the first one finds 
a place with the other children. 



140 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 



Round and round the village, 

Round and round the village, 

Round and round the village. 
As fast as we can go. 

In and out the windows, 
In and out the windows, 
In and out the windows. 
As we have done before. 

Stand and face your partner, 
Stand and face your partner, 
Stand and face your partner. 
And bow before you go. 

Follow me to London, 
Follow me to London. 
Follow me to London, 
As we have done before. 



Some may know the game, "My Father Just Returned from 
China," If the post cards are to go to some other country that 
name could be substituted for China. A child savs to the one 
sitting next to him "My father just returned from China." 
The other says, "Did he? What did he bring you?" The 
first answers, "A fan." At that he makes his hand go as if 
fanning himself. No. 2 repeats to No. 3 and so on clear around 
the circle. No. 1 says, "My father just returned from China, 
and brought me two fans," "two shoes," "a hat" and "a chair." 
Each time the child adds the new movement to the ones he has 
already used. 

Instead of calling the next game Going to Jerusalem, say 
Going to China. Arrange the chairs in a row, every other 
chair facing a different way. Have one less chair than there 
are children. While some one plays a march on the piano 
the children walk around the chairs. When the music stops, 
each one tries to get a chair. The child failing to get one 



Children's Parties for Suxday School and Home 141 



drops out of the game. One chair is taken off each time and 
they try again till there is only one left. 

If you can get a returned missionary to tell about child 
life in the country to which they are sending post cards, it 
will interest the children. 

The refreshments for this party can all be arranged before 
hand and be on the table when the children come in. Serve 
stuffed dates and cookies. Secure enough cheap envelopes so 
each child can have two. Put dates in half of the envelopes 
and cookies in the others. Have two large green mail boxes 
on the table. Put the envelopes of dates in one and the 
envelopes of cookies in the other. When the children are 
seated give to all a letter from each box. Little green mail 
boxes can be made to hold each child's candy. 



142 Childrex's Parties for Sunday School and Home 






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Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 143 

Additional Games 



144 Children's Parties for Sunday School and Home 

Additional Games 



